Electric motor operation



DCC 14 l954 B. F. WILEY ELECTRIC MOTOR OPERATION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 1l 1951 IN1/Emme. B. F. WILEY www j@ .TT/)pA/-KS Dec. 14, 1954 B. F. wlLEY 2,697,192

ELECTR IC MOTOR OPERATION Filed May l1, 195] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR ES. F. WILEY ay/MIM United States Patent Office 2,697,192 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 ELECTRIC MOTOR OPERATION Bruce F. Wiley, Bartlesville, Okla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 11, 1951, Serial No. 225,871

9 Claims. (Cl. 318-165) This invention relates to driving means for electric motors. pumps. compressors or the like. ln one specific aspect it relates to means for driving an electric moto. in a liquid or explosive vapor. In another aspect it relate` to torque amplifying operation of electric motors. ln still another aspect it relates to improved operation of electric machinery.

Heretofore, considerable difliculty has been cncountcred in attempting to construct suitable packing means` for electric motors so that the motors may efficiently and safely be operated in the region of liquids or explosive vapors, this being especially true when the fluids encountered are under considerable pressure. Whenever a motor is operated in an atmosphere of explosive vapor there is always the danger of an explosion due to sparking at the brushes; Yand whenever a motor is operated in n liquid. electrical insulating problems are encountered. Althouch a partial solution to these two problems is found in the various elaborate packing and sealing devices known to the prior art, there has never been a completely satisfactory solution since some seepage has always taken place around the rotating drive shaft. A second known partial solution to the problem has taken the form of various magnetic linkage devices whereby a magnetic armature is driven by means of a second magnetic armature directly rotated by a motor which in turn is sealed in a iid tight housing. While these devices operate in a satisfactory manner if the uid is under low pressure, they are not effective at higher pressures since rather thick walls are needed in the housing thereby resulting in undesired fiux leakage. lt is toward a more complete solution to the problems of ellicient and safe operation of electric motors in the presence of liquids and vapors that the present invention is primarily directed.

lt is. accordingly. an obiect of this invention to provide improved means for operating electric motors within fluids.

Another obect is to provide an improved form of magnctie drive for electric motors.

A further obiect is to provide torque amplifying means whereby the output of a first motor is effective to control the operation of a second more powerful motor.

A still further obiect is to provide improved means for operating electrical machinery.

Various other obiects, advantages and features of this invention should become apparent from the following detai'eil description taken in conunction with the accompanying drawinos illustrating a preferred embodiment of the orcsent invention in which:

Fioure l, shown partially in section` illustrates an in (bruine-type motor and commutator for carrying out this invention;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the motor assembly taken nlonU line 2-2 in Figure l;

Fioure 3 shows a sectional view of the commutator assembly taken along line 3 3 of Figure l;

Finure 4 illustrates an optional arrangement of the orrnlturc and field coils of a motor similar to that shown i? Figure l:

Figure 5 illustrates an optional method of insulating the tield coils of the motor shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows an improved form of magnetic drive for an electric motor; and

Fioure 7 shows a sectional view in Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and to Figures l and 2 in particular, there is shown a synchronous-type taken along line 7 7 lll motor l() comprising a magnetic rotor 1l formed in a circular ring 1S mounted for rotation on drive shaft 12. Shaft l2 is positioned for rotation on suitable bearings, not shown, in flanged portions 13 and 14 of circular mounting plates l5 and 16, respectively. Rotor Il is driven by means of a rotating magnetic field set up about pole pieces 20,21. 29 by field coils 30, 31l 39, rcs;pe:ticf

Commutatar means for establishing the rotating magnetic tijd about aramture ll is shown in Figures l and .'l. A direct current voltage source, not shown, is applied 'through leads 49 and 4l to conducting slip rings 42 and 43, respectively, said slip rings being electrically insulated from cylindrical housing wall 44 by means of circular nsulatin "'ns 45 and 46, respectively. Mounted concentric i slip rings 42 and 43 and spaced therefrom are #en metalli: comlnutator segments 50, 5l, 59, said segments beiney electrically insulated from one another a. l .vnlinfstrically mounted on insulating disk 47 which is r g l refuted to extended portion 48 of circular housing wall 49. Also mounted concentric with commutator segments SG, 5l. 59 and slip rings 42 and 43, and spaced between said segments and said slip rings, are ten electrically conducting brushes 60, 6l, 69. These brushes are tired to. but insulated from circular plate 72. Plate 72 is rotated by means of motor 73. Motor 73 is attached to circular housing u'all 74 by means of suitable brackets such as 75 and 76, Rotating brushes 60, 5l.

. 69 are adapted to make electrical contact between slip rions l2 and 43 and commutator segments 50, 5l, S9 in n manner as is described hereinafter, Each individual commutator segment 50, 5l, S9 is connected by means of double conductors such as 77 and 75l to opposite terminals of corresponding adjacent coils such :is 3l and 32.

he operation of motor It) can be explained in the fo!- lovx a manner. The direct current operating voltage is appned to slip rings 42 and 43 making one positive and the other negative. From these slip rings the voltage is transmitter through brushes 6). 6l. 69 to corn mutalor segments 50, 5l, 59, and thence to field coils 30, 3l. 39. The brushes are positioned so that evcrv other brush, 60. (l2. 64, 66, and 68 makes continuous slida'ole contact with slip ring 42 but does not make contact with slip ring 43. while brushes 6l, 63, 65. 67. and 69 make continuous slidable contact with slip ring 43 but do not make Contact with slip ring 42. Each individual brush 6ll, 6l, 69 makes slidable Contact with each individual commutator segment 50, 5l, 59 as each brush moves past said segments. However. the brushes and commutator segments are of such relutive sire that an individual brush is in Contact with onlj4 one sefunent at :tnv Igiven instant. Thus it can be seen that :idiacent sefnnent assume potentials of opposite sign at any given instant, and these potentials reverse as the brushes rotate to make contact with adacent commula tor segments. The voltage difference between adi-acont segments is applied across corresponding coils 3). 3l..

. .39 so that the magnetic tields set up about adiacent pole nieces are of opposite polarity. said fields reversing7 in polarity as each individual brush moves to make cou- 'act with adiaccnt segments. Therefore. the direct c'irrent operating voltage is utilized to produce a rotating magnetic field about rotor 1l.. thereby operating motor lt) as a synchronous-type motor through the use of a direct current voltaire.

As illustrated in Firure 3. rotor 11 comprises ten out wardly facing magnetic poles, adncent poles heine of' opposite polarity. A magnetic armature construction of this type is readily obtaintabe through the use of modern magnetic alloys such as Alnico V," the composition of which is Srff aluminum, 14% nickel, 24% cobalt, 39?- tiopper. and 51% iron. While the illustrated rotor construction is highly desirable since the driving torque is large duc to the attraction .and repulsion of the individual magnets with nrlineent field pole pieces. this particular construction is in no way essential to satisfactory operalion ofthe motor. For simplicity the rotor can he con4` structcd of amY known magnetic material. preferably laminated to reduce rdriv currents. or may be of the squirrelaase or dran-cup type.

In accordance with an object of this invention to pro-' vide means for operating electric motors in the presence of liquids and explosive vapors. there is provided a fluid tight housing around the ccmmutator means and the coils of the motor. The commutatcr means is clicctively sealed within the housing formed by walls 44, 49 and 74. Since there are no rotating shafts passing, through these walls they may be constructed completely fluid tight` Thr.` only openings that exist in these wallsl are those through which pass electrical leads such as 4G. 41, 81. 82, 77, and 78; and these can be effectively scaled by means of sealing devices which are well ltnoivn in tht: art. While motor 11i is illustrated as being enclosed within a chamber formed by walls 15, 16 and 83. the resulting chamber is not completely fluid tight due to th certain clearance required about rotating shalt i2. it" motor is operating in a gaseous atmosphere there is no need for further insulation, but if said motor is operated in a liquid, means must be provide for insulating coils 30, 31, 39. This effectively may be done by positioning a fluid-tight cylindrical shell 84 of non-mafinetic material between rotor 1l and pole pieces 20, 2i. 29. Such a wall prevents liquid seepage into the area enclosing the field coils.

In Figure 5 there is shown a second arrangement by which the field coils represented by 31', 39' can be insulated. In this arrangement a casing of nonmagnetic material is formed around said coils and their corresponding pole pieces 20. 21', 29. Such a casing can conveniently be molded of any of several well known non-magnetic plastic materials. As also illustrated, a similar casing can be applied about rotor 18' so as to present a smooth surface opposing the cas ing enclosing the pole pieces and held coils. A casing of this sort serves the dual functions of reducing the viscous drag between the moving elements of the motor and protecting the rotor from any corrosive etfects of the liquid in which the motor may be operating.

lt should be apparent that the motor-commutator arrangement herein described is effective as torque amplifying means. Motor 73, which may be any desired type of electric motor 0f known construction, is operated through electrical leads 81 and S2. The power output of this motor can be quite small, the only requirement being that the output be sufficient to rotate brushes 60. 61, 69 about commutator segments 5t), 51, 59. The primary power for operating motor 1.0 is sup plied from the direct current voltage source through leads and 41, and this power can be of magnitude considerably larger than that required to operate contrcl motor 73. Thus it can be :een that the commutator lneans described serves as an effective power amplifier in motor operation as well as a motor speed control device. The latter should be apparent since the speed of motor 10 is controlled by the speed of the rotating magnetic eld, and this is in turn controlled by the speedV of motor 73.

In Figure 4 there is shown an optional arrangemcn: of the rotor, coils. and pole pieces with respect to on" another. Rotor 111 is formed of two opposing magnc poles and 141 of opposite polarity, and is positioned so as to rotate about the pole pieces rather than inside the pole pieces as shown in Figures l and 2. In addition, the number of coils and corresponding pole pieces. is shown as eight rather than ten as previously described. This change in rotor and coil arrangement ncccssmtc; n reduction in the number of brushes to two and c r.i` mutator segments to eight in the corresponding com tator structure. Otherwise, the design of the commu-- tator is the same as that shown in Figures l and 3. it should be pointed out that the number of pole pieces and magnetic rotor poles is in no way limited to the particular configurations illustrated, but rather may be ol whatever number is convenient and practical for particular operation.

Of course, as is well known. 1n the electrical motor art the larger thc number of poil: pieces the smoother the operation of the motor.

A second form of motor drive is illustrated in Figurer. 6 and 7 in which the commutating means comprising au armature 163 driven by variable speed motor 150 is positioned within a fluid-tight chamber delined by cylindrical wall 153 and circular plates 142 and 154. lvlotor is secured to plate 154 by means of brackets such as 151 and 152 and is connected to a power source. not shown, by means of leads 156 and 157 which pass through sealing devices 153 and 159, respectively, through plate 154. Rotor 163 is formed of a plurality of magnetic poles and can have a form such as circular armature 18 of Figure 2. A second rotor 164, identical to armature 163, is mounted on drive shaft 165 which is adapted to rotate in suitable bearings in plate and flanged portion 166 of plate 167. The axis of rotation of rotor 164 is coincident with the axis of rotation of armature 163. A plurality of segments 170. 171. 179 of magnetic material are positioned annularly about armatures` 163 and 164 in a manner such that opposite ends ol each segment are adjacent corresponding magnetic poles in said rotors. Segments 170, 171, 179 each pass through walls 142 and 167 and are sealed therein to form fluid-tight joints. As rotor 163 is driven by motor 150 a rotating magnetic field is established which is transmitted through segments 170, 171. 179 to armature 164. Armature 164 rotates to l't`ollow" this` tagnetic field thereby rotating drive shaft 16S which is connected to whatever mechanism is being operated by the motor.

ln accordance with this second form of driving means the rotating magnetic field is transmitted through a plurality of segments constructed of magnetic material. The coils have been eliminated thereby reducing thc insulating problems that arise from thc use of electrical coils in the presence of liquids. The segments. in reducing ux leakage inherent in the prior art devices which transmit magnetic flux through the walls of the lluid-tight housing. and thereby provide for tore etlicient motor operation. It should be observed that while this feature of the invention has been described in con junction with a ten pole rotor. satisfactoryt operation is by no means restricted to this particular configuration.

While this invention has been described in coniunction with a present preferred embodiment thereof this description should be considered as illustrative only and not by way of limitation.

l claim:

l. A motor drive comprising, in combination. a rotor having a plurality of spaced permanent magnetic poles positioned thereon. adjacent poles being of opposite polarity, a fluid-tight housing, motor driven meer cositioned within said uid-tight housing to establish a rotating magnetic field. said rotor being positioned outside said housing, and means passing through fluid-tight open ings in said housing to establish said rotating magneti: field adjacent said rotor.

2. A motor drive comprising, in combination. a first rotor having a plurality of spaced permanent magzrctic poles positioned thereon. adjacent poles being of opposite polarity, a Huid-tight housing. a second similarly constructed rotor positioned within said housing, said First rotor being positioned outside said housing, a rroior Y positioned within said housing to rotate said second rotor.

and a plurality of segments of magnetic material mag',- netically coupling said first rotor to said second rotor whereby said lirst rotor rotates with said second rotor said segments passing through fluid-tight openings` in .ad housing.

3. A non-sparking synchronous-type motor compris ing, in combination. a rotor. a plurality of coils lidia cent said rotor. a direct current voltage source. n com mutator. a huid-tight housing enclosing said cornmutator. said coils and said rotor being positioned outside .said housing, electrical leads connecting said coils to 'sul commutator. said leads passing through fluid-tight carnings in said housing.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said coils surround said rotor.

5. The combination in accorti-vwo whit claim 3 wherein said rotor surrounds said coils.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said rotor comprises a plurality of permanent ma i poles, said number of poles being equal to the n. cf said coils, adjacent ones of said poles bein;` of opor-rc polarity.

7. The combination in accordance '."ili claim 3 tft comprising a second 'Huid-tight hous consti/tieten non-magnetic material enclosing said coils '--i'hercbyY rotor is positioned outside said second huid-tight ho l'l". 8. The combination in accordance with clnirn 3 further comprising a first fluid-tight casing of non-magnetic material enclosing said rotor, a second Huid-tight casing of non-magnetic material enclosing said coils. said first El) and second casings being of such configuration that Smooth surfaces result between said coils and said rotor thereby reducing the viscous drag therebetween.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said commutator comprises a plurality of electrically conductive segments arranged in a first annular path, said segments being electrically insulated from one another, first and second slip rings positioned in respective annular paths concentric with said first annular path, the terminals of said voltage source being connected to re- Spective ones of said slip rings, a plurality of first brushes, means for rotating said first brushes whereby said lirst brushes make continuous contact with said first slip ring and make contact with said segments sequentially, a plurality of second brushes, means for rotating said second brushes whereby said second brushes make continuous contact with said second slip ring and make c011- tact with said segments sequentially, said first and second brushes engaging respective adjacent segments at any given time, and electrical leads connecting each of said segments to respective terminals of adjacent pairs of said coils.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 843,287 MacCoy Feb. 5, 1907 1,254,902 Hale Jan. 29, 1918 1,371,096 Howe et al. Mar. 8, 1921 1,598,268 De Connick Aug. 3l, 1926 2,327,341 Drake Aug. 24, 1943 2,402,928 Summers June 25, 1946 2,534,520 Katcher Dec. 19, 1950 

